A furnace plenum or duct type humidifier

ABSTRACT

This disclosure comprises a humidifier mounted in a vertical position in the furnace plenum, and a modified form thereof is mounted in a horizontal position in the furnace duct, each of which has a centrifugal water impeller that throws droplets of water into a mesh or mat where it evaporates and enters into the air stream. The centrifugal water impeller units are rotated by means of a vane propeller or fan by the flow of air. This invention, therefore, eliminates the need for an electric motor or other electrical means.

United States Patent 11 1 Velander 11 3,744,773 14 1 July 10,1973

1 1 FURNACE PLENUM OR DUCT TYPE HUMIDIFIER [7 5] Inventor: Hugo W. Velander, Cary, I11. [73] Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago,

22 Filed: Feb. 10,1971

21 Appl. No.: 114,237

[52] US. Cl 261/88, 261/D1G. 15, 261/95, 261/98 [51] Int. Cl B0li 3/04 [58] Field of Search 261/88, D10. 15, 261/35, 89, 90, 95, 98; 126/113 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 522,217 7/1894 .losephy 261189 939,351 11/1909 Ti1lotson.... 261/90 1,100,144 6/1914 Noble 261/88 1,691,827 11/1928 Schuckher 261/88 1,792,909 2/1931 lscara 261/88 2,018,493 10/1935 Halstead 261/35 2,076,192 4/1937 Carr 261/90 2,129,215 9/1938 Howse et al. 1. 261/90 3,139,462 6/1964 Scott 261/DIG. 15 3,421,745 1/1969 Prupis 261/35 3,450,124 6/1969 Mauller, Jr. 126/113 Primary ExaminerTim R. Miles Attorney-Donald W. Banner, William S. McCurry and John W. Butcher [5 7] ABSTRACT This disclosure comprises a humidifier mounted in a vertical position in the furnace plenum, and a modified form thereof is mounted in a horizontal position in the furnace duct, each of which has a centrifugal water impeller that throws droplets of water into a mesh or mat where it evaporates and enters into the air stream. The centrifugal water impeller units are rotated by means of a vane propeller or fan by the flow of air. This invention, therefore, eliminates the need for an electric motor or other electrical means.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FURNACE PLENUM OR DUCT TYPE HUMIDIFIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The closest prior art appears to be U.S. Pat. No. 3,421,745. This patent also has a unit with fan blades identified as a turbine, which is driven by furnace air BRIEF DESCRIPTION This humidifier invention comprises a housing which at its inner periphery is lined with a replaceable water absorbing mat or pad.

A screen mounted in the housing is connected to a support means that carries a centrifugal water impeller at its upper end and a fan at its lower end.

A gravity water feed connected to the water reservoir feeds water to the centrifugal water impeller that is rotated by the fan which is driven by an air current, inherent in a furnace. Drops of water are thrown into the water absorbing mat or mesh, whereby water is evaporated, this providing humidity.

Dropsof water that by-pass the centrifugal water impeller are picked up by the fan thus serving as an assist to the centrifugal water impeller.

The small quantity of water, if any, that drops to the bottom of the humidifier is drained out by a pipe.

Two examples of embodiments of a humidifier according to the present invention are described in detail below with reference to accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the humidifying apparatus in a vertical position connected to a plenum according to the present invention.

FIG. la is a view along the line la 1a in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a complete top view, partially broken away, of the drawing shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 FIG. 1, and also as shown on lines 3-3, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the humidifying apparatus, in a horizontal position of a heating duct, according to the present invention, and

FIG. 5 is a complete top view, partially broken away of the drawing shown in FIG. 4, positioned horizontally in the heating duct.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2, a humidifier 9 provided with a housing 10, is disposed in a plenum wall 11, and supported therein by a bracket 12, connected to the plenum wall 11. The upper end of the bracket 12 is provided with a clamp 13 which supports a water tube 14 operably connected to a reservoir, not shown. The opposite view of clamp 13 is shown in FIG. 1a. The outer perimeter of the humidifier 9 comprises a housing having a humidifier wall 15 that encompasses pad 16, which serves to absorb water drops whereby humidified air is provided.

The inner area of the housing 10 is provided with a turbine 17 supported by a support means 18 wherein a shaft 19 is rotatable and connected to the turbine 17 at one end and to a centrifugal water impeller 20 at the other end.

A screen unit 21 within the inner periphery of the housing 10 is provided with a downward extension 22, which is supported by the humidifier wall inward extension 23. The upper end of the screen unit 21 is connected to the upper end of the support means 18 therebysupporting the centrifugal water impeller 20 and the turbine 17.

A bushing 24 preferably made of tefion is disposed around the shaft 19 between the support means 18 and the centrifugalwater impeller 20. The end of the water tube 14 supplies water to a pocket 25 centrally located in the upper end of the centrifugal water impeller 20.

Multiple water throwing units 26, such as vanes or spokes, serve as parts of the centrifugal water impeller 20.

Multiple ports 27 communicable with the multiple water throwing units 26 serve to increase water distribution. Fluid passages 28 are communicable with the pocket 25, and the multiple water throwing units 26, the fluid passages 30 are communicable with a bore 29 in the shaft 19, and the multiple water throwing units 26.

A funnel-shaped drain 31 positioned below the center of the turbine 17 is connected to an outlet drain 32 that is connected to the lower end of the humidifier wall inward extension 23.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a humidifier 33 comparable to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that it is horizontally mounted in a furnace duct 34 instead of a vertical position in the furnace plenum as shown by the drawings in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The humidifier 33 provided with a housing 34 is connected to the furnace duct 35 with screws 36. A screen unit 37 of the humidifier 33 has a screen wall 38, as a part thereof, to which a turbine unit 39 is connected, preferably with solder.

The housing 34 encompasses a pad 40 which serves to absorb water drops whereby humidified air is provided.

A water tube 41 leading from a reservoir, not shown, is connected to a support means 42 of the turbine unit 39.

A shaft 43 is operable in a bore 44 extending through the support means 42 and interconnects a centrifugal water impeller 45 and a fan 46. Bushings 47 and 48 preferably made of teflon, are disposed around the upper and lower ends of the shaft 43.

Fluid passages 49 and 50 in the shaft 43 are communicable with the bore 44 of the centrifugal water impeller 45. Multiple water throwing units 51, such as vanes or spokes, provide water distribution.

A drain 52 is placed at the bottom of the humidifier 33 and extends through the furnace duct 35 thus serves to drain water that has not been humidified.

OPERATION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the humidifier 10 is shown in a horizontal position in the furnace plenum.

'Water is supplied from a reservoir by means of the pipe duced by the turbine 17 driven by the flow of air in the plenum.

A screen unit 21 is supported by the humidifiers wall inward extension 23 and is connected to the upper end of the support means 18, which is provided with the shaft 19 that interconnects the centrifugal water impeller 20 and the turbine 17.

A bore 29 extends through the shaft 19, which is provided with a fluid passage 30, which provides fluid communication with the pocket 25, thus serving to drain excess water into the funnebshaped drain 31.

The humidifier shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is similar in performance to the humidifier shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which performs in a vertical position in the plenum and therefore has been modified so that it would be operable in the furnace duct which would require it to be in a horizontal position, and therefore was designed so that the concept could be used in either place.

Various of the features of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it should be obvious to one skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. A humidifier adapted to supported mounted in a horizontal position in a duct of a furnace system comprising: a generally cylindrical, foraminous screen defining a housing; a turbine unit mounted in a horizontal position within the inner periphery of said housing, driven by the air flow in said furnace duct; a centrifugal water impeller operably connected to said turbine unit; a support means fastened to said housing; a shaft rotatably disposed in said support means and connected to said turbine unit and said centrifugal water impeller; a water reservoir; a water tube connected to said water reservoir for supplying water to said centrifugal water impeller; multiple water throwing units connected to said centrifugal water impeller; an absorbent pad encompassing the said housing for receiving water spray; and a drain at the bottom of said housing.

2. A humidifier as in claim 1 wherein the said shaft is provided with a bore communicable with the said water tube and the said centrifugal water impeller.

3. A humidifier as in claim 2 wherein the said support means is provided with a pair of bushings one each at opposite ends thereof in engagement with the said shaft.

Patent No. 3,744,773 a ed July 10, 1973 Inventor-(3) VEL ANDER HUGO W.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby'corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 1, "adapted to supported should read adapted to be Signed and sealed this 25th day of December 1973 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR RENE D. 'I'EGTMEYER Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-IOSO (IO-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 lLSv GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I559 0-356'334. 

1. A humidifier adapted to supported mounted in a horizontal position in a duct of a furnace system comprising: a generally cylindrical, foraminous screen defining a housing; a turbine unit mounted in a horizontal position within the inner periphery of said housing, driven by the air flow in said furnace duct; a centrifugal water impeller operably connected to said turbine unit; a support means fastened to said housing; a shaft rotatably disposed in said support means and connected to said turbine unit and said centrifugal water impeller; a water reservoir; a water tube connected to said water reservoir for supplying water to said centrifugal water impeller; multiple water throwing units connected to said centrifugal water impeller; an absorbent pad encompassing the said housing for receiving water spray; and a drain at the bottom of said housing.
 2. A humidifier as in claim 1 wherein the said shaft is provided with a bore communicable with the said water tube and the said centrifugal water impeller.
 3. A humidifier as in claim 2 wherein the said support means is provided with a pair of bushings one each at opposite ends thereof in engagement with the said shaft. 